Brave Babes - Barging through 2017 in style

[SweetLathyrus]

Hello, I'm SweetLathyrus (Sweet for short), and I've been hopping on and off Gerald the Brave Babes Battle Bus for three years now because, like some many of us, I struggle with alcohol.

The Bus is a supportive community at all stages in their relationship with alcohol and with lots of different goals - for some, it's abstinence, for others it's moderation, for others, it's just about getting a bit of control and perspective.

So, if you think you'd like to join us, don't be shy, flag us down and jump on board and share as much or as little as you feel comfortable with; sometimes there will be silliness, but there will always be help and support.

If you would like to know how the Bus first rattled into action, here is the first ever thread

And if you would like to know where we have been more recently, here is the most recent thread

I need a good book. Just finished "Belgravia" by Julian Fellowed which was a pleasant easy read.
What are you all reading?
Welcome prancer

I'm having another go at Wolf Hall. I don't know what it is but I really struggle with it.

Come away in Prancer you are doing it! The sleep will come, honest.

guggs at the infusion confusion. I am looking at floral water for ironing. They have shown water a sprig of clary sage. It would be cheaper to wring out a unicorn.

I was in bed by 8.30 last night. I'm trying to drink more water but I woke up with hangover symptoms even though no alcohol and had to cave in to a litre bottle of diet pepsi. I've had a himalayan salt bath and I'm trying to muster the energy to change the bedding. I had a night of those cold sweats.
I've been trying to finish my book since November but my concentration is all over the place.
I never thought I'd become so reliant on alcohol.

I'm reading one of the Rebus books btw.

I loved Black and Blue, Prancer

Also just finished Peter James " Love you dead" which was quite good.
Might have a re-read of The Night Circus, I like that one

Day 7. Hurrumph. Last night I poured myself a large glass of wine and drank half of it. Tonight after supper I had a twinge, but made myself a cup of liquorice tea instead. I don't get it... Liquorice tea carries health warnings but bottles of wine don't. Which is really more dangerous? Really? I do wonder. Anyway, this little alcohol over this length of time for me is unheard of since I was pg which was over a decade ago. You are doing so so well, Prancer. I have used alcohol for really weird psychological reasons. I have drunk as though it's expected of me and I have become as though I expect it of myself. What a mess.

But it's not a mess Tiger because you have done seven days for the first time in over a decade!
That's brilliant.
The Wine Witch has taken a serious beating on here this week.

Day 6 done- absolutely knackered and already in bed. 5.30 start again tomorrow. Ordered a new bed today, won't get it for a few weeks, but also treated myself to an extortionately expensive memory foam pillow and a new blanket. That plus my hot water bottle and chamomile tea must equal a good nights sleep, I hope. Rock and roll Saturday night for me

lala huge hugs and lovely to see you xxx

Sorry not to really name check- struggling to keep up with everyone! Night all

elba now that's a great bit of news! You will see such a difference when you get a comfortable bed. xx

In bed here too. My new routine is to be in bed at 9 with a book or my tablet. Dh is pissed off. Says that's not normal adult behaviour and if I need to be in bed at 9 I have a problem. Yeah, guess who my problem is?
This is the behaviour of someone desperately trying not to drink and using tactics which are helping avoid temptation. Thanks for your support!!

Also joining the ranks of the not normals. In bed awaiting the start of Goodfellas. One of my spiderlings has made it's home on my brass bedhead. He's on his own side so he can stay for now. I have a safe place to move them to when they get big and scary. I've never quite got over the Katie Melua thing.

Bloody hell ma we are an arse kick away from completing day 7.

I know dubh who would have thunk it?
Am approaching my personal best of 10 days.....

Night all you lovely babes.

I am not thinking about the bed sharing spiders. I do not DO spiders. In a bed ...arrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggghhhhhhhh! No wait that will just encourage one of you loons to post a picture of a massive grinning spider!

prancer you are doing really well and it gets better and better. The memory thing is horrible and it will take a little while for the fog to lift but it will happen.

Day 7 and I'm drinking redbush tea and scoffing the end of the Christmas chocolate.

I'm quite pleased with myself tonight - DP is out til late and DD decided to make bedtime far far worse than it needed to be. Usually as soon as DD was down I'd reward myself with a glass of wine and fall into a screen for a few hours. Instead I have done a pile of washing, pre-cooked the stuffing for tomorrow's roast, pre-cooked the sauce to go with it, batch cooked some soup for the freezer and then cleaned the kitchen afterwards.

I'd still love a glass of wine but I'm going to bed instead.

You're all ace.
Meeting H tomorrow to discuss The End.
Bah
Have had wine
Keep it up babes. You're all inspirational x

Wot like this guggenheim?

Oh 42 that sounds stressful. Hugs if you want them.

Thanks mip
Fed up, but haven't drunk as much as if wasn't on this bus. So am ahead, in a way

Eeek, mips why, JUST WHY?! Thought that now i have a dog I would be safe from the arachnids... to be fair to her she did eat one that was lurking in the bathroom....

elba how are you, lovely?

dubh how is the terrorist?

That's all for now, mr la is making crispy beef stir fry with glass noodles... so far he has not burned the house down. This is progress people!!!

Love to all and keep going babes.

Love lala x

Tomorrow I'll describe how awful I feel as a caution to us all

Sorry lala

I like spiders. I'd have a pet one if I could and talk to it and stroke its furry little back (although actually I probably wouldn't as I don't think it's fair to keep them in glass tanks) but DP has categorically vetoed it, she doesn't like them.

I like spiders. Lived in Australia, they thought I was Bonkers...

elba well done you - it has been amazing to watch your journey from the time when you couldn't even contemplate a night without alcohol. I know it's been a rough ride, and I know that not drinking doesn't solve the deep, deep heartaches, but I app. laud every time I see you post about another day done, and I hope that one day your demons will be laid aside.

ma I read 'Us' by David Nichol and 'The Versions of Us' by Laura Barnett, both were good enjoyable, easy reads.

looking I always wonder what on earth your h does while you are running your kids around, working hard, doing the house stuff, being organised. I imagine him wasting his time working on a pointless project in a garret.

To those who have social events coming up, I always make sure that my first 2 drinks are really big glasses of something non-alcoholic. It doesn't matter what it is - water, tea, coke - but it you will start really well hydrated so less likely to guzzle any alcohol you do have, and sometimes you may find that once you're 2 drinks behind everyone else you just can't be bothered and you might as well enjoy the event sober and wake up feeling fine the next morning.

42 please don't feel sad / bad about having had wine. But take a break when you can, drink lots of water before bed and try and get some sleep. It won't make anything better tomorrow but having a hangover too will be doubly awful.

Some will be waking up tomorrow determined to face a new day 1, some will be on day 2/3/4/5/6 and some of you amazing babes will have done 7 dry days already. If I was a dancing, pom-pom waving kind of a girl I'd be doing that, but I'm nodding positively and wisely, and quietly cheering you on for the start of the 7 days. Go babes! Everyone of us.